LONG-DURATION, FULLY AUTONOMOUS OPERATION OF ROTORCRAFT UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING ENERGY REPLENISHMENT
First Claim
1. A method for autonomously operating an unmanned aerial system (UAS), comprising:
- (a) the UAS autonomously taking off from a take-off landing-charging station;
(b) the UAS autonomously executing a mission;
(c) the UAS autonomously travelling to a target landing-charging station;
(d) the UAS autonomously precision landing on the target landing-charging station;
(e) the UAS autonomously re-charging via the target landing-charging station, wherein once re-charged, the UAS is ready to execute a next sortie; and
when landed, the UAS autonomously transmitting mission data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system provide the ability to autonomously operate an unmanned aerial system (UAS) over long durations of time. The UAS vehicle autonomously takes off from a take-off landing-charging station and autonomously executes a mission. The mission includes data acquisition instructions in a defined observation area. Upon mission completion, the UAS autonomously travels to a target landing-charging station and performs an autonomous precision landing on the target landing-charging station. The UAS autonomously re-charges via the target landing-charging station. Once re-charged, the UAS is ready to execute a next sortie. When landed, the UAS autonomously transmits mission data to the landing-charging station for in situ or cloud-based data processing.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for autonomously operating an unmanned aerial system (UAS), comprising:
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(a) the UAS autonomously taking off from a take-off landing-charging station; (b) the UAS autonomously executing a mission; (c) the UAS autonomously travelling to a target landing-charging station; (d) the UAS autonomously precision landing on the target landing-charging station; (e) the UAS autonomously re-charging via the target landing-charging station, wherein once re-charged, the UAS is ready to execute a next sortie; and when landed, the UAS autonomously transmitting mission data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An unmanned aerial system (UAS) comprising:
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(a) a take-off landing-charging station and a target landing-charging station; and (b) a UAS vehicle comprising; (i) one or more rotors for operating the UAS vehicle aerially; (ii) a processor; (iii) software executed by the processor for conducting onboard autonomy on the UAS vehicle, wherein the software causes the UAS vehicle to; (A) autonomously take off from the take-off landing-charging station; (B) autonomously execute a mission; (C) autonomously travel to a target landing-charging station; (D) autonomously precision land on the target landing-charging station; (E) autonomously re-charge via the target landing-charging station, wherein once re-charged, the UAS vehicle is ready to execute a next sortie; and (F) autonomously transmit mission data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification